Markham is hardly known as the cultural and artistic hub of the GTA, especially with the Toronto art scene in close proximity. But one particular project is putting Markham on the map when it comes to meaningful art exhibits. Continue reading…

At Fieldgate Homes, it’s clear that we love Markham. We have 3 amazing communities there, Victoria Manor, Potter’s Bend, and Upper Unionville, and we know that it’s a great place to settle your roots and raise a family.

Wednesday evening at 6pm we opened our Victoria Manor sales centre doors and welcomed guests in search of new homes in Markham. This newest release at Victoria Manor is comprised of 14, 40′ lots located just off of Erin Mills rd and McCowan road.

Prospective home buyers were lined up before the 6pm start date to purchase a lot in one of markham’s finest communities.

There was a flurry of activity around the lot planning table, as early registrants got to get first pick of the lots.

This release featured 3 different architectural designs and 3 facade options for the 40′ lots.

There are so many amenities close by to the neighbourhood, we had these great handouts for prospective buyers.

One person doesn’t seem to be too interested in new homes…

So if you’re in the market for a new home in Markham then head on over to ourregistry form and our sales staff will be in touch. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments box below, or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter.

I studied landscape architecture at University of Toronto. In the design studio there were times where we studied abroad in Europe. We visited cities all over the place, like Paris and Berlin, and looked at how design evolves over a period of time. This stretched our design thinking to include a larger context, such as build form and streetscape.

Do you have a city in mind that you want to model Markham to be?

Personally, I like the Scandinavian model of cities. Copenhagen is one good example. I just visited around a year ago and they are very innovative in terms of promoting alternative modes of transportation. For example, bike lane design is really integral to the city. They look at how to seek a right balance between intensification and sustainability; they have a lot of innovative technology from the way they design buildings (for energy efficiency) to the way parking lots are designed (to reduce heat island effects). The whole city is very committed and it’s very encouraging.

What are some of the challenges in Markham’s urban design?

Transportation is one thing that needs discussion at the moment. We’re also committed to planting trees throughout Upper Unionville and Markham. From a sustainability perspective, we need to see if there is enough soil volume for each tree so it’s a continuous planting strip. We [also] want to make sure there’s enough parking for commercial spaces. In terms of the build form for townhouses, we want to make sure that driveways will not cut through sidewalks.

You’ve worked all over the world. What’s your favourite city?

Different cities have different challenges. There are certain cities that look to sustainability for survival, not just as a choice. Especially cities in Asia, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. There is a chance to try new technologies, which is encouraging, and the scale of the projects is much larger. England is very interesting as well. London – a world-class city – already has transportation in place but at the same time they are trying to balance heritage (such as St. Paul’s Cathedral) and protecting the skyline.

What’s in demand in urban design right now?

Mixed-use developments are being designed right now. In the future when you look at a tower – say, an office tower – it won’t be a stand-alone tower anymore because land is very valuable. In some areas of Japan, the tower is viewed as a city: there is residential space at the top, the middle is offices, and the bottom accommodates retail.

Is Markham the city of the future? Is it a model Toronto will look up to?

I think yes, for sure. From a sustainability perspective we are very committed. You can see the overall employment and economic projection for the future on our website. From those perspectives, we are very innovative and we try to make sure we’re doing the right thing for the future.

Fieldgate Communities

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The Fieldgate Homes blog is where you'll find all the latest updates on our communities in the Greater Toronto Area. With a focus on community, family and a mix of urban and countryside, we'll share exclusive content with you on our developments, our neighbourhoods and some of our favourite decorating solutions.